Multiple-panel load-bearing building walls and load-bearing panel units therefor



R. R. KELLER L LOAD March 26, 1963 3,082,848v MULTIPLE-PANE: BEARING BUILDING WALLS AND LOAD-BEARING PANEL UNITS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1958 es la lzzveiz'oa4:

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Je 50 /o R, R. KELLER L LOAD-BEARING BUILDING WALLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MULTIPLE-PANE AND LOAD-BEARING PANEL UNITS THEREF' F'lled Dec 3, 1958 March 26, 1963 Mardi 26, 1963 R. R- KELLER 3,082,848

MULTIPLE-PANEL LOAD-BEARING BUILDING WALLS AND LOAD-BEARING PANEL UNITS THEREFOR Filed Deo. 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Bi Patented Mar. 26, 1953 flee 3,932,343 MULTIPLE-PANEL IJAlD-BEARENG BEELDEN@ WALLS ANI) LAD-BEARHNG PANEL UNHTS TMREFR Robert R. Keller, b Milioni Sta, Manchester, NH. Filed Bec. 3, i958, Ser. No. 773,0@8 13 Claims. (l. 189 34) This invention relates to improvements in multiplepanel load-bearing structural walls for buildings and loadbearing structural panel units therefor. More particularly, the invention provides load-carrying structural panel units which may have lengths of the order of twelve feet for extending throughout the height of a side wall of a -single story building, or of the order of twenty feet for extending throughout the height of a vside wall of a two story building, the individual units being readily connectable together, in sealed condition, on the job, to provide complete load-carrying building walls. This application is a continuation-in-part of 4my copending application Serial No. 486,112, tiled =February 4, 1955, now issued as U.S. Patent No. 2,931,468.

Heretofore, building walls have been pre-fabricated to lconstitute unitary side walls of a building, or to constitute relatively large sections of a side wall capable of being secured together to provide a complete side wall. Also, it has been proposed heretofore to construct building walls of a multiplicity of panel units mounted on spaced and parallel vertical supports or stiles, the panels themselves having little or no load-bearing capabilities, and the panel units having little or no load-carrying capacity.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a building wall load-carrying panel unit wherein a pair of I-beam members extend in parallelism along opposite side edges of the unit throughout the length of the unit, and opposite yside edges ot one or more panels are secured bet-Ween the ilanges of the two I-beam members at one side of the web of each of said members, said panel or panels having structural I-beam core elements supporting two-panel facing `sheets in spaced parallelism and extending in two right-angularly related directions between the facing sheets dividing the interior panel space or spaces into a series of chambers, the said I-beam members and structural 4I-bearn panel core elements coacting to provide a rigid load-carrying panel unit which may have length approximating the height of a -building side wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building side wall section wherein each of a plurality of loadcarrying panel units has a pair lof I-beam mem-bers extending in parallelism along opposite side edges of the unit throughout the length thereof, and opposite -side edges of one or more panels are secured between the ilanges of the I-beam members at one side of the web of each of said members, the said panel, or each of them, having structural I-beam core elements supporting two facing sheets in spaced parallelism and extending in two right-angularly related directions between said facing sheets dividing the interior panel space or spaces into a series of chambers, the adjacent I-beam members of next adjacent panel units being spaced apart and secured together by a pair of clamping jaws respectively engaging the .adjacent ilanges of I-beam members of said next adjacent panel units at opposite sides of said units, the said jaws being drawn into clamping relation to the said flanges by means extending in .said space between the I-beam members and operable exteriorly of the side wall section at one side thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pluralpanel building wall load-bearing structural unit wherein at least one panel has a series of right-angularly related I-beam elements constituting a load-bearing core supporting two translucent facing sheets in spaced parallelism, and another panel provides a transparent window in the unit, all of said panels being mounted on parallel I-b-eam members extending throughout the length of the unit, which length may approximate the height of a side wall `ot a building of which any particular said unit is to constitute a part.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure and etciency of building walls of the variety having pre-fabricated panel-type load-bearing units assembled together to provide .a complete side wall of a building.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. l is an elevational view of a portion of a building wall comprising mounted pre-fabricated panel units embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on any of the lines 2 2 4of FIG. l, on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3 3 of FIG. 1 on a scale somewhat smaller than that of FIG. 2, with central portions broken away;

FIG. 4 is a cross-'sectional view on line 4 4 of FIG. l, on thel scale of FIG. 3, with central portions broken away;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5 5 of FIG. 1, on the scale of FIG. 3, with central portions ot each of the three panels broken away;

FlG. 6 is a face view of a portion of any one of the faced panels ofFIG. 1 with the near facing broken away;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional View on line 7 7 of FIG. 6, on `an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view on line 8 8 of FIG. 6 on the scale of FIG. 7.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of a building wall is illustrated in FIG. l, comprising pre-fabricated panel units 10, of which three are shown complete and two others are partially broken away. Each unit 10 preferably extends substantially throughout the entire height of the building wall, which may be one or two stories high. Each of the opposite longitudinal edges of each unit 10 has an I-beam member 12 extending therealong from top to bottom of the Iunit, and one panel y14 or 16, or a plurality of panels :18, 20 or 22, 24, 26 or 28, 30, extends or extend between the two I-beam members 12 of each unit 10, being securely attached thereto as by the screws 32 which are shown, in FIG. 2, extending through the web 12 of .an I-beam member 12 and screwed into an adjacent web 34 of an edge I-beam element 34 of a panel core structure.

Each of the panels 18, 2t), 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 cornprises a core structure of inter-locked I-beam elements 34, 36, `36 wherein the elements 34 extend in general parallelism with the I-bearn members Al2, and the elements *36 extend generally at right angles thereto between the elements S4, the elements 36 being edge elements at the upper and lower edges of the respective panels, and extending between the elements 34, which are at the opposite iside edges of the respective panels. The inner surfaces of the flanges of all ot the panel core elements are longitudinally grooved at i|13, and the ends of the elements 36 have tongues 37 thereon for slidably engaging in the grooves 13 of the elements 34, as best seen in FIG. 7. Similarly, the ends of elements 34, excepting the side edge elements 34, have tongues l2&5 thereon for slidably engaging in the grooves 13 of the end edge elements G6', as best seen in FIG. 8. The edge elements 34, 36 preferably have their ends mitered and suitably secured together at each of the four corners of a panel, as by interior angle members 38 which are fitted into the act-asas d grooves 13 at the corners and secured by having Iwall portions of the elements 34, 36 indented thereinto, as at 39.

Each of the panels has facing sheets 40 secured, by lamination with heat and pressure, to the outer flange surfaces of all of its core elements i3:4, 36, 36', with the facing sheets continuous throughout the area of any particular panel, at opposite faces thereof, and rigidly maintaining the core elements in a predetermined relationship.

The facing sheets 4t) may be of any of numerous materials which may provide transparent, translucent or opaque panels, as may be desired. Also, when desired, the facing sheets 40 may be of any selected color or colors, or color effects may be provided in the transparent and translucent panels by means of color inserts which may be provided in particular spaces of a panel defined by its core elements.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be apparent that a panel unit may have a single faced panel extending throughout approximately the entire area of the unit, as exemplitied by the panels 14 and v16. Or, a unit 110 may comprise three or more panels as exemplified at `22, 24, 26 with the transparent panel 24 between the two translucent panels 22', 26. The central unit it) in FIG. 1 comprises a translucent panel i8 and an opaque panel -20 with a window y42 between them, and the extreme right hand unit 10 of FIG. 1 comprises a translucent panel 2S and an opaque Ipanel 3) with a louver 44 at each of the upper and lower ends of this'unit 10.

Each prefabricated unit 1l) has opposite edge margins of its panel or panels secured betwen the flanges of its two l-bearn members 12 by a bonding material 48 additional to the screws 32, the inner surfaces of the said flanges being grooved or otherwise roughened at 46 for locking the bonding material against displacement. The bonding material serves also as an effective seal between the I-beam member flanges and the adjacent surfaces of the :panel `or panels, both exteriorly and interiorly with the interior seal acting as a vapor barrier preventing condensation of moisture on core elements or facing sheets of a panel.

The lower edge margin of each pre-fabricated unit l@ may be secured in place by any suitable means such as the specific clamping means of FIG. 5, which comprises a longitudinally extending metallic base member 50 which may be secured to a suitable support 52 by screws at spaced locations along the member 50. Member 50 has an upstanding part 56 rigid thereon for engaging the inner face of the unit Crt), at the lower margin of the latter. When base member 50 is secured in place, the part 56 constitutes a fixed jaw of a clamp. A movable jaw '58 engages the outer face of unit 110, at the lower margin, and has a portion 60 slidably engaging in a groove 62 of an upstanding rib 64 on member 59. Suitably spaced screws 65 extend through jaw 58 and are screwed into rib 64 for drawing the jaws S6, 5S relatively into clamping engagement with the unit lil, suitable sealing material being introduced between the jaws and the unit faces, and between base member Si) and its support. The upper margin of each unit 1i) may be similarly secured to a support 68, as shown in FIG. 5, or may be otherwise suitably secured to the support 68.

When a unit 10 comprises two or more separately constructed panels, such as the panels 22, 2.4, 26 of the unit of FIG. 5, the adjacent edges or edge margins of adjacent panels may be secured together in sealed relation by an inside sealing clamp or an outside sealing clamp, examples of each of which are shown in FIG. 5. Panels `22 and 24 are secured together by an exterior clamp which comprises a generally T-shaped strip 7) which, preferably, is of aluminum. The T-bar of strip 7 0 bridges the space between the panels and engages the lower margin of panel 22 and the upper margin of panel 24 at the exterior side of unit 10, with the leg of the T-strip extending into the space between the panel. Another T-strip member 72, preferably of aluminum, has its T-bar member bridging the space between the panels and engaging the lower margin of panel 22 and the upper margin of panel 24, at the interior side of unit 10. The T-legs of T-strips 70, 72 are formed with longitudinal grooves therein at 71 and 73, and screws '74, suitably spaced along strip member 72, extend loosely through strip 72 and are screwed into the T-leg of a `strip 717. The screws are self-tapping and form threads in the opposite walls of groove 71 as the screws are driven. Before the clamp is tightened, suitable sealing material 71a preferably is introduced between the strips and the panels, for sealing the connection when the strips 7b, 72 are drawn into clamping engagement with the panels by tightening the screws 74.

The interior clamping means at the connection between panels 24, 26 comprises two strip members 76, 78 of which the member 76 has parallel ribs 77 for engaging respectively in an edge groove i3 adjacent to the exterior face of panel 24 and an edge groove 13 adjacent to the exterior face of panel 26. Member 78 similarly has parallel ribs 79 thereon for engaging respectively in an edge groove t3 adjacent to the interior face of panel 24 and an edge groove 13 adjacent to the interior face of panel 26. Suitably spaced screws 89 are threaded through s'rip 73 with their inner ends butted against the strip 7d, whereby the strips are forced relatively apart when the screws are screwed inwardly through strip 7S to effectively secure the panels together, `suitable sealing material being introduced in the grooves .i3 prior to tightening of the screws.

Adjacent pre-fabricated units l@ relatively quickly and easily may be secured together, in sealed relation, along their vertical edges by the strip-form clamping means which is best illustrated in FlGS. 2 and 6. Two generally similar T-strips 82, 84- provide clamping jaws which are drawn relatively toward each other by means of screws 86 suitably spaced along strip 72. The T-bar of strip S2 engages the outer surfaces of the anges of adjacent -bearn members 12 of adjacent units l0. The said members 12 are spaced apart, and the leg of T-strip 82 cxtcnds into the space between the members 12. Similarly, the T-bar of strip 84 engages the outer Isurfaces of the flanges of the adjacent l-beam members l2 of the adjacent unit lil with the leg of T-strip 84 extending into the space between the members l2. The T-legs of the T-strips 82, 84 are formed with longitudinal grooves 33 and S5 therein and screws 6 extend loosely through the strip 82 and the T-leg thereof and are threaded into the T-leg of strip 84. The screws are self-tapping and form threads in the opposite walls of groove as the screws 36 are driven. Suitable sealing material 83 is introduced between the T-bars of the T-strips 82, S4 and the I-beam members i2 prior to tightening of the screws 86.

All of the T-strips 82, 84 may be formed uniformly so that they are usable either for strips 82 or strips 84, but the strips which are to be used as strips 82 interiorly of the wall, are drilled for free reception of the screws 86 which can be screwed into the walls of grooves 35 of a strip d4 at any location along the strip.

Pre-fabricated wall units it) constructed in accordance with the invention, when interconnected with other units 10 in a building wall, provide rigid modular units which replace the heavy mullions and floating panels of conventional curtain-type building walls. The normal loading is dispersed throughout the entire building wall rather than converging on the mullions alone. The invention provides for unlimited flexibility in selection of panel unit structures and aesthetic designs. The architect can select panel units l0 which may combine any of a large variety of colors and textures which themselves may be variously combined to produce any of a large variety of building wall effects.

The metallic members and elements 0f the pre-fabricated unit 1t) preferably are of aluminum to insure lightness with strength and load-carrying capacity to be selfsupporting under standard design wind loads. Hence, the units l@ may be shipped and handled with a minimum 'of expense and trouble, and they relatively easily and quickly may be combined on the job to provide exceedingly attractive and effective building 'wall structures which are efficiently proof against the elements and which require no surface treatment throughout long years of service.

It should be understood that the herein disclosed panel units are designed and constructed on girder and airplane wing principles whereby all of the elements and members incorporated therein coact in providing a superior degree of load-carrying capacity, as compared with any prior comparable building panel structural units, and with substantial savings in weight and costs.

In the conventional building which utilizes pre-fabricated structural panel units, the basic or main loads are carried by main beams, two by fours, etc., on which the panel units are mounted and supported, with the panel units contributing little in the load-carrying process. The panel units of the present invention effectively sustain not only loads supported on the tops of units, but wind and snow loads acting generally broad-side of the units, and so-called shear loads. Yet there is provision for substantial flexible yielding at sealed joints between panel units.

The particular embodiments of the invention herein chosen for illustration are exemplary of a variety of combinations of the structural features falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended clairns, and it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

-I claim as my invention:

1. A prefabricated long span panel unit comprising a structural panel and two parallel opposed side members, said structural panel being comprised of a core assembly of a peripheral rectangular frame and a plurality of intermediate rigid core elements, said assembly providing two oppositely directed networks of bonding surfaces, and two continuous facing members, one overlying each network `of bonding surfaces and secured thereto, said side members each being integrally formed, each comprising an elongated web portion, and two opposed, integral, ri-gid flanges extending at least to one side of said web substantially throughout its extent, each flange portion having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the web of the corresponding member and opposed flanges providing a pair of oppositely directed generally planar outer flange surfaces extending along the length of the panel unit, adapted to be engaged by opposite generally planar portions of a compressive clamping means for joining and sealing the panel unit to adjacent structure, the opposed inside flange surfaces of each of said side members being spaced apart a distance slightly exceeding the thickness of said structural panel, said parallel, opposed side members being joined to opposite rectilinear sides of said structural panel, with each of said side members having its opposite flanges overlying oppositely directed face portions of said str-uctural panel, sealing material interposed between at least one of said inside flange surfaces of each side member and its corresponding face portion of said structural panel and a plurality of spaced-apart, mechanical attachment means along each of said side member-s, each mechanical attachment means being fastened to the web of said side member and a corresponding core portion of said structural panel drawing them together and wedging in said sealing material whereby said side members and said structural panel are locked together.

2. A prefabricated llong span panel unit comprising a structural panel and two parallel opposed side members, said structural panel being comprised of a metal core comprising a rigid peripheral frame and rigid intermediate elements disposed at substantial angles thereto providing two opposite-ly directed bonding surfaces, two continuous facing members, one overlying each bonding surface and secured thereto, said side members each being integrally formed, each comprising an elongated web, and two integral, opposed, rigid flanges extending at least to one side of said web substantially throughout its extent, each flange having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the corresponding -web7 and a substantial -width providing an outwardly directed flange surface portion extending along the length of the panel unit, adapted to be compressively engaged by a securement means for joining and sealing the panel u'nit to adjacent structure; the opposed inside flange surfaces of each of said -side members being spaced apart a distance slightly exceeding the thickness of said structural panel, said parallel, opposed side members being joined to opposite rectilinear sides of said structural panel, with each of said side members having its opposite fran-ges overlying oppositely directed face portions of said structural panel, sealing material interposed between at least one of said inside flange surfaces of each side member and the corresponding face portion of said structural panel and a plurality of spaced-apart metal screw attachment means along each of said side members each extending through the web of its side member into mechanical engagement with the core of said structural panel, each adapted to be actuated from the opposite side of said side member web to draw its 4side member and structural panel together, wedging said flange members and interposed sealing material into tight locking engagement with said structural panel face portions.

3. The panel unit of claim 2 wherein inside llange surfaces of said .side members are roughened for improved locking between said side members, said structural panel and said interposed sealing material.

4. The panel unit of claim 2 wherein said threaded attachment means comprise self-tapping metal screws directed from said side members into said structural panel, engaging said core each engaginCr a portion of the peripheral frame at the side of one of said intermediate elements disposed at a substantial angle to said peripheral frame portion.

5. The panel unit of claim 4 wherein said side members have a mutual extent beyond one end of said structural panel, and a wall defining structure extends between said side members, being secured thereto and to said structural panel.

6. A prefabricated long-span building wall panel unit comprising at least one structural panel formed of two spaced-apart, thin, continuous facing sheets and a core structure disposed between them, extending the length and breadth of said sheets, the core having a thickness substantially greater than said facing sheets, having a multiplicity of open spaces and having at least a multiplicity of surface portions spaced over the area of each side disposed toward a facing sheet, to which the corresponding sheet is laminated, and two load-spreading members each extending substantially the entire length of the panel unit one at each side thereof, cach having a channel defined by a web and two spaced-apart, opposed flanges, the channels of the two members facing each other, the structural panel extending between said loadspreading members, each member rigid relative to said structural panel, an edge portion of the structural panel at the side corresponding with each load-spreading member being disposed in the channel of the latter, the inner ange surfaces of the load-spreading members eectively engaged and sealed with corresponding facing margins of the -structural panel, and the web of each of said loadspreading members rigidly secured to the core of said structural panel.

7. The panel unit of claim 6 wherein each of the loadspreading members is an integra-l aluminum member defining a channel having a width greater than the thickness of the structural panel, the inner flange surfaces of the load-spreading member having a plurality of grooves therein, and sealing material being disposed between said structural panel and the inner liange surfaces of said load-spreading member, effectively joining the t-wo together, the grooves holding the material against displacement.

8. The panel unit of claim 6 wherein each of the loadspreading members defines a channel having a width greater than the thickness of the structural panel, sealing material is disposed at least between one of the inner frange surfaces of each of said members and a corresponding margin portion of the structural panel, and metal screws are directed through the'webs of said loadspreading members into the core of said structural panel, rigidly securing said members and core together, and drawing the flanges of said members over said margin portions.

9. The panel unit of claim 6 wherein the structural panel has a core defined by a multiplicity of interconnected rigid elements providing a network of bonding surfaces at each facing sheet, while providing the multiplicity of open spaces in the core, extending from facing to facing, the facing sheets being translucent so that light passes through the load-bearing structural panel of the panel unit.

lO. The panel unit of claim 9 wherein each of the core elements is an aluminum member having two spacedapart langes, the core elements being disposed in spacedright-angular relationship throughout the area of the panel whose outer surfaces Aform the network of bonding surfaces.

11. The long-span panel unit of claim 6 adapted to be joined and sealed to an adjacent like panel unit wherein the `langes of each of said load-spreading members are substantially thicker than its web, two oppositely directed sealing surfaces being defined by the outer flange surfaces of said load-spreading members, said surfaces supported by said thick yflanges to receive high compressional loading `without distortion of the panel unit.

12. A prefabricated building wall panel unit comprising two structural panels each formed of two spacedapart, thin, continuous facing sheets and a core structure disposed between them, extending the length and breadth of said sheets, the core having a thickness substantially greater than said facing sheets, and having surface portions at each side disposed toward a facing sheet, to which the corresponding sheet is secured, two elongated load-spreading members each extending substantially the entire length of the panel unit, one at each long side thereof, each having a channel deiined by a web and two `spaced-apart, opposed tianges, the channels of the two members facing each other, the structural panels extending between said members, each member rigid relative to said structural panels, the edge portions of the structural panels corresponding with each load-spreading member being disposed in the channel of the latter, the inner ilange surfaces of the load-spreading members effectively engaged and sealed with corresponding facing margins of the structural panel, the web of each of said load-spreading members being rigidly secured to the core of said structural panels, the two panels being spaced apart along said load-spreading members, and a rectangular frame extending between said loadspreading members in the space between said panels, se- -cured and sealed to the corresponding edges of said panels and the corresponding portions of said load-spreading members, for mounting a window, louver or the like said panels serving as structural members to take load spread therein by said load-spreading members.

13. The panel unit `of claim 12 wherein the ilanges of each load-spreading member are substantially thicker than the web thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,053,135 Dalton Sept. 1, 1936 2,054,694 Eldridge Sept. 15, 1936 2,326,245 Nichols Aug. 10, 1943 2,633,946 Huizenga Apr. 7, 1953 2,808,136 Hammitt et al. Oct. 1, 1957 2,828,235 Holland et al Mar. 25, 1958 2,849,758 Plumley et al. Sept. 2, 1958 2,931,468 Keller Apr. 5, 1960 2,962,133 Kivett et al. Nov. 29, 1960 2,976,969 Gillespie Mar. 28, 1961 

1. A PREFABRICATED LONG SPAN PANEL UNIT COMPRISING A STRUCTURAL PANEL AND TWO PARALLEL OPPOSED SIDE MEMBERS, SAID STRUCTURAL PANEL BEING COMPRISED OF A CORE ASSEMBLY OF A PERIPHERAL RECTANGULAR FRAME AND A PLURALITY OF INTERMEDIATE RIGID CORE ELEMENTS, SAID ASSEMBLY PROVIDING TWO OPPOSITELY DIRECTED NETWORKS OF BONDING SURFACES, AND TWO CONTINUOUS FACING MEMBERS, ONE OVERLYING EACH NETWORK OF BONDING SURFACES AND SECURED THERETO, SAID SIDE MEMBERS EACH BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED, EACH COMPRISING AN ELONGATED WEB PORTION, AND TWO OPPOSED, INTEGRAL, RIGID FLANGES EXTENDING AT LEAST TO ONE SIDE OF SAID WEB SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT ITS EXTENT, EACH FLANGE PORTION HAVING A THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF THE WEB OF THE CORRESPONDING MEMBER AND OPPOSED FLANGES PROVIDING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DIRECTED GENERALLY PLANAR OUTER FLANGES SURFACES EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE PANEL UNIT, ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY OPPOSITE GENERALLY PLANAR PORTIONS OF A COMPRESSIVE CLAMPING MEANS FOR JOINING AND SEALING THE PANEL UNIT TO ADJACENT STRUCTURE, THE OPPOSED INSIDE FLANGE SURFACES OF EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY EXCEEDING THE THICKNESS OF SAID STRUCTURAL PANEL, SAID PARALLEL, OPPOSED SIDE MEMBERS BEING JOINED TO OPPOSITE RECTILINEAR SIDES OF SAID STRUCTURAL PANEL, WITH EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING ITS OPPOSITE FLANGES OVERLYING OPPOSITELY DIRECTED FACE PORTIONS OF SAID STRUCTURAL PANEL, SEALING MATERIAL INTERPOSED BETWEEN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID INSIDE FLANGE SURFACES OF EACH SIDE MEMBER AND ITS CORRESPONDING FACE PORTION OF SAID STRUCTURAL PANEL AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART, MECHANICAL ATTACHMENT MEANS ALONG EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, EACH MECHANICAL ATTACHMENT MEANS BEING FASTENED TO THE WEB OF SAID SIDE MEMBER AND A CORRESPONDING CORE PORTION OF SAID STRUCTURAL PANEL DRAWING THEM TOGETHER AND WEDGING IN SAID SEALING MATERIAL WHEREBY SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND SAID STRUCTURAL PANEL ARE LOCKED TOGETHER. 